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Las Vegas resort fees suck

When I finally discovered Las Vegas in 2010, I couldn’t wait to go back.

Fell in love with the chic tacky feel of the place, the pool at my hotel and a certain swimsuit store at the Fashion Show Mall.

I returned in 2011 and 2012.

It wasn’t until my last visit that I became annoyed at paying the nearly $30 USD per night resort fee at my hotel. A fee that added $120 to my bill. I was particularly outraged about being given a room next to the ice machine in a city that NEVER sleeps. (The manager offered me a discount on my next visit within 12 months. I haven’t been back).

Here, according to the hotel, is what it buys:

$25 + TAX DAILY RESORT FEE INCLUDES*

VALUE

In room high speed internet access

$20/day

Access to fitness center

$17/day

Buy 1 Cocktail Get 1 Free (one per stay)

$9/each

Buy 1 Buffet Get 1 Free (one per stay)

$20-$27/each

Daily newspaper at Guest Services

$1-$2/day

In room local and toll free phone calls

$1/call

Printed airline boarding passes

$5/each

Copies and faxes (up to 10 pages)

$1/each

$20 credit for future stay (one per stay)

$20

TOTAL VALUE OF RESORT FEE AMENITIES

Over $90!

Is the exclamation point supposed to make me feel like I’m getting a superb deal?

Can you say rip off?

I’ve only ever used the following:

wifi (this is as necessary nowadays as pillows on the bed. should be free);

drink (which I need to prepare for seeing the added charge on my credit card bill);

buffet (cheap food, especially when bought in bulk).

Not worth $120. Especially when Vegas has tens of thousands of hotel rooms it needs to sell.